Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Contention City was once one of the most important places in southern Arizona, and today, almost nothing remains.
Ten miles from Tombstone, along the San Pedro River, Contention City had a brief existence, but had its share of old west history.
In this video, I hike along an old railroad grade and down toward the river to explore the site where Contention City once stood. Along the way, we look at how mining discoveries by Ed Schieffelin and others sparked a boom, how disputes over claims gave the town its name, and why Contention City faded almost completely from the landscape while Tombstone survived.
Today, there’s no main street, and no buildings, just subtle traces if you know where to look. This is the story of a Wild West town that didn’t go out in a blaze of glory, but quietly disappeared.
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►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a free trial: share.epidemicsound.com/v927fj
Contention City was once one of the most important places in southern Arizona, and today, almost nothing remains.
Ten miles from Tombstone, along the San Pedro River, Contention City had a brief existence, but had its share of old west history.
In this video, I hike along an old railroad grade and down toward the river to explore the site where Contention City once stood. Along the way, we look at how mining discoveries by Ed Schieffelin and others sparked a boom, how disputes over claims gave the town its name, and why Contention City faded almost completely from the landscape while Tombstone survived.
Today, there’s no main street, and no buildings, just subtle traces if you know where to look. This is the story of a Wild West town that didn’t go out in a blaze of glory, but quietly disappeared.
○ Gear we use: amazon.com/shop/sidetrackadventures
►Join us on Patreon: patreon.com/SidetrackAdventures
►Please subscribe for weekly updates showcasing some of our adventures: youtube.com/channel/UCdueDRFYPVgzPAAOM_bxVWA?sub_confirmation=1
►Also please follow Sidetrack Adventures on Instagram: instagram.com/sidetrackadventures
►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a free trial: share.epidemicsound.com/v927fj
